2024 Call for Proposals Now Open

Important Deadline:

Letters of Intent Due March 22, 2024

Greenbelt Foundation Grant Application

Call for Proposals

The 2024 Spring Grant Round is open to a broad range of stakeholders and community partners who can be effective agents to advance efforts to enhance Ontario’s Greenbelt. Applicants can include registered charities or other qualified recipients such as incorporated non-profit organizations with audited financial statements, municipalities, First Nations, and conservation authorities with projects aligned to the funding streams. Organizations can apply individually or in collaboration with others. Lead applicants must be a registered charity or non-profit organization.

We are accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for our 2024 Spring Grant Round. LOIs are due by 5 p.m. on March 22, 2024.

Our Grant Guidelines provide helpful guidance on how to apply, an overview of the Foundation’s grant making approach; important considerations for applicants, and an outline of the three funding streams: Resilient Greenbelt, Sustainable Greenbelt and Accessible Greenbelt.

In addition to these three funding streams, the Foundation may support projects that respond to or inform immediate or emerging opportunities to enhance awareness or contributions made by the Greenbelt to support provincial goals.  All proposals will be reviewed in the context of their contributions towards the Foundation’s commitments to Truth and Reconciliation and addressing the challenges and solutions in managing Ontario’s growing population and the region’s climate resiliency.

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Our Approach to Grantmaking

Across the Greenbelt geography, collaboration and inclusion is encouraged to increase the impact and reach of projects in communities within and adjacent to the Greenbelt.

Given their responsibility for implementing land-use plans at the local level, collaborations with municipalities could be particularly productive. Conservation and environmental organizations with relevant ecological expertise could be instrumental in helping deliver impactful protection, restoration, and natural infrastructure projects across the region that build climate resilience.

Collaborations in implementing sustainable agriculture practices to help farmers and agri-food operators adapt to climate variability, improve soil health, and support rural economies are welcome. Reaching organizations dedicated to increasing awareness of and engagement with the Greenbelt through education, outdoor recreation, and sustainable tourism are key to supporting the Greenbelt’s longevity.

Through the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening relationships with local Indigenous Peoples and acknowledging the cultural ties to the Greenbelt’s natural landscapes, the Grant Funding Program will prioritize the capacity to honour Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the building of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to protect and maintain the Greenbelt and its rural economies.

Support will be provided for principles and practices that strengthen collaboration and contribute to creating more equitable communities in the Greenbelt. Specifically, supporting the interests and engagement of Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities is encouraged, including collaborative frameworks and strategies that advance efforts to create meaningful equity.

Funding Streams

Resilient Greenbelt

Resilient Greenbelt works with nature to create and improve public benefits provided by the natural systems of Ontario's Greenbelt.

This funding stream invests in projects that leverage the Greenbelt’s natural systems to build cost-effective, climate-resilient infrastructure, bolster community stewardship initiatives to increase natural cover, improve species-at-risk habitat, restore damaged habitats, protect critical water resources, apply Indigenous knowledge systems, and enhance ecological connectivity across the region.

Sustainable Greenbelt

Sustainable Greenbelt sustains the healthy communities and rural vitality provided by the agricultural and rural economic systems of the Greenbelt.

This funding stream invests in projects that generate economic activity and promote thriving rural communities that support sustainable agriculture, good soil health practices, and increases knowledge of the benefits that communities derive from the Greenbelt’s reliable local food system, its protection of farmland, and rural resilience. These activities support the long-term prosperity of the region.

Accessible Greenbelt

Accessible Greenbelt sparks and develops awareness, appreciation and engagement of the Greenbelt in residents, visitors and stakeholders.

This funding stream invests in projects that leverage the Greenbelt’s natural and cultural heritage systems for social benefit through education, public and stakeholder engagement, enhancement of recreational spaces, and promotion of the Greenbelt as a significant recreational and tourism destination. This stream increases understanding of the many benefits communities obtain from the Greenbelt, celebrates those benefits through engagement, and magnifies interest in sustaining those benefits.

2024 Spring Grant Round Funding Deadlines

The Foundation will begin receiving Letters of Intent for this funding program starting Thursday February 22, 2024 until Friday March 22, 2024. Upon invitation, full proposals will be requested of select applicants between April 15-16, 2024.

Call for Proposal Announcement

February 22, 2024

Letter of Intent Due Date

March 22, 2024

Decision on Request for Full Proposals

April 15-19, 2024

Full Proposal Due Date

April 28, 2024 @ 11:55pm EST

Advisory Committee Review

May 2024

Final Approval

Between June 27–July 2, 2024

2024 Spring Grant Round project activities and deliverables must
be completed between the months of July 2024 – December 2026.

Submission Process

  1. Review the Grant Guidelines and FAQs.

  2. Complete an eligibility quiz on the grant portal to be able to register.

  3. Register you organization on on the grant portal.

  4. You will receive a confirmation of your registration and invitation to submit an application within 2 business days.

  5. Submit your LOI application through the grant portal.

  6. Foundation staff will contact you with the decision regarding your proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

To better assist you in getting the information you need, we've compiled a selection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

  • What doesn't the Greenbelt Foundation fund?

    Typically, the Foundation does not consider requests for:

    • Buildings and infrastructure (i.e. bricks, mortar)
    • Deficit financing
    • Land claim disputes
    • Establishment of new farmers' markets
    • Projects occurring outside the Greenbelt and Greater Golden Horseshoe region
    • Projects that are solely sponsorships, festivals, and events
    • General management costs for the recipient or grantees, including board and committee meetings that are not specific to the Project
    • Legal costs not necessary for the Project
    • Costs of alcohol
    • Costs of travel outside Ontario
    • Costs associated with preparing and submitting grant proposals and letters of intent unless funding is given for a planning grant or feasibility study
    • Refundable expenses

    Who is eligible to apply?

    Charities and incorporated not for profit organizations are eligible to apply. However, the Foundation does not fund individuals.

    Do you fund municipalities or other government (tax supported) bodies?

    Yes, the Foundation does fund municipal governments to undertake innovative and leading-edge projects that benefit the Greenbelt.

    Does the Foundation consider multi-year grants? What are the criteria?

    Yes, we do consider multi-year grants for compelling and appropriate proposals. Multi-year grants are dependent on the availability of funds.

    What is the maximum grant my organization can apply for?

    It is more useful to think in terms of applying for what your organization needs rather than applying for the maximum. If you have specific questions about the amount of your particular request, feel free to contact us.

    Does the Foundation fund salary and administration costs?

    Yes, the Foundation funds salary and administration costs for hiring new staff or extending the existing hours of current staff required to carry out the project. A reasonable proportion of management staff time for supervision will also be considered.

    Does the Foundation fund projects that occur outside of the Greenbelt?

    It is essential that each project has an obvious relation to, and direct impact on the Greenbelt.

    Do you require matching funds?

    Matching funds are encouraged, not required. However, the Foundation tracks the amount of funds leveraged through grantmaking.

    Does the Foundation consider staff and consultants as overhead?

    No, staff and consultants are not considered overhead. There are separate budget lines for those two expenditures in the budget template. Overhead is a portion of rent, utilities etc.

    Does the Foundation require the project budget along with Letter of Interest (LOI)?

    Yes, at the LOI stage we require an indication of how funds will be spent under each budget line using our budget template. A more detailed budget will be requested later if the applicant is requested to submit a full proposal.

Contact

After reading our Frequently Asked Questions, if you still have questions regarding eligibility, registration, your proposal, or a technical aspect of the application process, please contact the Grant Program staff.

Maggie Ballantyne
Director, Grants Program

Tel. (416) 960-0001 ext. 341

Michael Rogers
Senior Grants Officer

Tel. (416) 960-0001 ext. 310

Disclaimer

Please note that the Greenbelt Foundation is a non-partisan, registered charity, separate from government, and has no formal role in the government's consultation process.

This project has received funding support from the Government of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Government of Ontario of the contents of this material.